WILLMAR -- In a span of just over four minutes midway through the second half, Willmar turned a 10-point deficit into a lead, taking advantage of 12 second-half turnovers committed by Central Lakes Conference co-leader Fergus Falls to post a 54-46 win Tuesday.
Things didn't look so bright for Willmar to begin the second half as the Cardinals committed three turnovers in a span of 70 seconds. Before that, the Spartans closed out the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 28-18 lead at halftime.
But as the Cardinals (7-7, 10-10) were making mental mistake, so were the visiting Otters (10-4, 12-8). A layup from Lisa Nielsen, who led all scorers with 18 points, started the rally for Willmar. Two mid-range jumpers from Nielsen and Kelsey Evans and a layup from Brin Hanson pulled the Cardinals within four at 30-26.
The turnovers finally caught up with Fergus Falls as Willmar pieced together a 13-2 run behind five Fergus Falls turnovers to take a 39-34 lead with 7:05 remaining.
"That was definitely one of our better halves (of the year)," said Hanson, who finished with 14 points behind five layups and four free throws. "Yeah, we were bummed (trailing at halftime), but (coach Brad) Atchison told us at halftime that it's not over yet because a whole lot can happen in a half."
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Evans piled up 15 more points for Willmar, which shot just under 50 percent (23-for-48) from the field. Hanson also dished out seven assists and pocketed five steals, as did Evans.
The win avenged a 35-30 loss to the Otters Dec. 15 in Fergus Falls.
Willmar 54, Fergus Falls 46
Fergus Falls (10-4, 12-8) 28 18 -- 46
Willmar (7-7, 10-10) 18 36 -- 54
FERGUS FALLS - 19-42 FG (6-19 3-pt); 2-2 FT; 18 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Krista Shaikowski 16, Hannah Draxten 15, Erin Morstad 4, Susan Wellendorf 4, Lexie Moon 3, Deveny Moore 2, Becca Rengel 2 ... 3-point shots: Shaikowski 4, Draxten 1, Moon 1 ... Rebound leaders: Shaikowski 6, Wellendorf 5 ... Assist leaders: Morstad 4, Shaikowski 4 ... Steal leaders: Wellendorf 2
WILLMAR - 23-48 FG (2-5 3-pt); 6-10 FT; 22 rebounds; 7 fouls ... Scoring: Lisa Nielsen 18, Kelsey Evans 15, Brin Hanson 14, Megan Brown 3, Briana Goldschmidt 2, Hannah Okins 2 ... 3-point shots: Brown 1, Evans 1 ... Rebound leaders: Nielsen 9, Goldschmidt 4 ... Assist leaders: Hanson 7, Evans 3 ... Steal leaders: Evans 5, Hanson 5, Nielsen 3
